Road Deaths Rise Despite More Money for Safer Highways

Traffic deaths on Missouri’s roads have increased depite an initiative that was supposed to make the state’s roads safer. In a year since the State Transportation Department started smoothing out roads across the state using Amendment Three money, Missouri has seen a rise in the number of traffic deaths, compared to a similar time period before the so-called Smoother, Safer, Sooner initiative was started. In the year before Amendment Three money paid for the increased construction, the state saw 1183 deaths. In the first year of construction, that number jumped to 1220. But MoDOT spokesperson Sandra Hentges says the approximately two percent increase in deaths is not due to increased work zones, and that’s a good sign. In fact, she says work zone deaths decreased from 25 to 14 during the time period. But Hentges admits work zones are dangerous and drivers need to be on the lookout this Summer.